Vanessa Acupuncture

25/08/2026

What a lovely surprise today to be given these as a thank you for helping reduce my patient’s pain from unbearable to just minor waves that he can now cope with!

My patient knew how important clean ingredients and avoiding emulsifiers are to me, so he and his lovely wife drove miles to get me some Diddly Squat Farm biscuits!

Such a thoughtful gesture and very much appreciated. Thank you so much!

25/07/2026

20/07/2026

Laser Acupuncture – What does the research actually show?

Many people ask whether laser acupuncture is just a gentler version of traditional acupuncture. What really interests me is what the scientific literature says.

Here are just a few published examples:

A large clinical trial found people with chronic low back pain were significantly more likely to experience meaningful pain relief with laser acupuncture than with a placebo treatment.

A young woman facing surgery for persistent tailbone pain after a fracture reduced her pain from 8/10 to 2/10 following a course of laser acupuncture and returned to normal daily activities.

A gentleman living with facial paralysis for 12 years regained the ability to fully close his eye after a series of laser acupuncture treatments.

A teenager with severe chemotherapy-related nerve pain experienced complete resolution of his neuropathic pain symptoms following laser acupuncture.

These are encouraging findings, but it's important to remember that not every person responds in the same way. Some of these reports describe individual patients, while others are larger clinical trials. More high-quality research is still being carried out.

One of the reasons I invested in medical laser technology is because it allows me to offer a completely needle-free option for babies, children, nervous patients and anyone who prefers a gentle treatment.

Science continues to evolve—and it's exciting to see the growing body of evidence supporting laser acupuncture.

In just a month of using the laser in my practice, I have had remarkable results on a lady with chronic back pain, a gentleman with peripheral neuropathy in his feet and a man with nerve damage in the hand. Patients remark that they feel as relaxed as they do with traditional acupuncture and enjoy it just as much.

Call me on 07494785979 to discuss how I can help you.

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15/06/2026

This weekend I did something I never thought I would do.

I flew to Croatia on my own to attend a course in Laser Acupuncture, spending the weekend learning from some of the leading professionals in Europe.

For many people that might not sound like a big deal, but for me it was huge.

The last time I travelled abroad on my own without knowing a single person was when I was 24. Since the perimenopause, my confidence has gradually changed in ways I never expected. I became someone who wouldn’t dream of walking into a restaurant alone, who preferred having a friend come shopping, and who found simple things like being the first person to walk into a pub surprisingly nerve-wracking.

For a long time, I viewed menopause as something negative. Something that took things away.

Then I began studying Chinese Medicine.

In Chinese Medicine, menopause is often described as a “Second Spring” — not an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter. A time of wisdom, growth, and transformation.

Standing in Croatia, completely outside my comfort zone, I realised I had been given the opportunity to live that philosophy rather than simply talk about it.

I had to navigate airports, taxis, restaurants, and a new city entirely on my own. I had to face every fear and every anxious thought. Not by becoming someone else, but by doing it in my own way.

And something shifted.

I have returned home not only with new skills in Laser Acupuncture, but also with a renewed sense of calm, confidence, and excitement about the future.

What I thought would be a professional learning experience turned out to be a personal one too.

Sometimes growth happens when we gently step beyond the boundaries we’ve created for ourselves.

What a wonderful few days it has been. 🇭🇷

25/05/2026

There’s something incredibly grounding about creating a garden from scratch.

Each day when I walk down to my acupuncture studio, I notice something new — a flower opening, fresh growth appearing, another little sign of life quietly unfolding. This beautiful poppy opened today and completely stopped me in my tracks.

In Chinese medicine, nature is one of our greatest teachers. We’re reminded that growth doesn’t happen all at once; it happens slowly, season by season, often in ways we barely notice until suddenly something beautiful blooms.

After busy clinic days, tending the garden has become a form of medicine in itself for me — slowing down, observing, breathing, reconnecting.

In such a fast-paced world, there’s something very healing about paying attention to small changes and allowing ourselves time to grow naturally too.

17/05/2026

After a busy week in clinic, I spent the weekend in Brighton. It really reminded me how important it is to slow down and recharge in this busy world. 🌊

In Chinese Medicine, being by the sea is thought to help calm the mind, move stagnant Qi (energy) and regulate the nervous system. The rhythm of the waves, fresh sea air and open space can be deeply restorative for both body and mind.

So many of us spend our lives rushing, overstimulated and constantly “doing”, but sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply pause, breathe deeply and reconnect with nature.

As practitioners, carers, parents or busy workers, it’s important we remember to take care of ourselves too — not just everyone else.

A few walks along the beach, good food, fresh air and a slower pace was exactly what I needed this weekend ☀️

14/05/2026

Taking care of our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, a reminder that many people are quietly dealing with stress, anxiety, overwhelm, poor sleep, burnout and emotional exhaustion while trying to keep going with everyday life.

Acupuncture offers a calm, gentle space to slow down and reset.

Many people seek acupuncture support for:
• Stress and anxiety
• Poor sleep and insomnia
• Feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained
• Tension headaches and tight shoulders
• Fatigue and burnout
• Hormonal changes affecting mood
• Digestive symptoms linked to stress

During treatment, many patients report feeling deeply relaxed, calmer and more balanced — often sleeping better and coping more easily with day-to-day pressures.

In traditional Chinese medicine, mental and emotional wellbeing are closely connected to the body as a whole, so treatments are always tailored to the individual rather than using a “one size fits all” approach.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re constantly running on empty, acupuncture may help support your wellbeing alongside the care and support you already have.

📍 Vanessa Acupuncture, Station Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 3HL
📞 07494 785979

09/05/2026

Another weekend of CPD completed at City College in London.

One of the things I love about being an acupuncturist is that learning never really stops. There are over 360 recognised classical acupuncture points within traditional Chinese medicine systems, and over time many practitioners naturally fall back on the points they use most often in clinic.

This course was a great opportunity to revisit and refresh point location, techniques and clinical applications — including points I don’t routinely use in everyday practice. Learning from a range of experienced practitioners, hearing about their clinical successes, and sharing approaches helps broaden knowledge and ultimately benefits my patients.

It was also lovely to be guided again by Paul Johnson, my previous tutor, whose teaching always places a strong emphasis on safety, precision and good technique.

An added bonus was catching up with old colleagues from training days and ending the course with a lovely cocktail afterwards (non-alcoholic of course!! 🍸).

07/05/2026

07/05/2026

A couple of days well spent in Reading at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM), learning from Kevin Young, an expert in musculoskeletal medicine.

As a member of the British Acupuncture Council, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is mandatory — but it is also such an important part of staying up to date with the latest knowledge, techniques and research so I can continue to offer the very best care to my clients.

It was great to spend two days refining practical skills, deepening anatomical understanding and learning new approaches to musculoskeletal conditions and pain management.

Now on my way home feeling inspired, refreshed and looking forward to bringing some of this learning into clinic.